Key facts
- Turkey is seeking US approval for approximately 40 F110 jet engines for its KAAN fighter aircraft.
- The engines are intended to increase the number of KAAN platforms in development.
- The KAAN is a twin-engine stealth fighter being developed by Turkey.
- Turkey's acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense system led to US sanctions and expulsion from the F-35 program.
- The F-35 dispute and sanctions have previously hampered Turkish defense projects and strained US-Turkey relations.
Turkey is looking to secure US approval for the acquisition of dozens of F110 fighter jet engines for its indigenously developed KAAN fighter aircraft. The potential deal, which could involve around 40 engines, is anticipated to be discussed during President Donald Trump's visit to Ankara for the NATO summit.
While Turkey has already received an initial batch of 10 F110 engines and is in talks for an additional 80, the progress has been stalled by political clearance issues stemming from Turkey's 2017 acquisition of a Russian S-400 missile defense system. This acquisition led to the US expelling Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 and imposing sanctions, which have since impacted Turkish defense projects and bilateral relations.
Analysts suggest that while a green light for the F110 engines is likely, it will not resolve the underlying F-35 dispute that has strained ties between the two NATO allies. The KAAN fighter, intended to eventually replace the F-16 fleet, is currently flying with F110 engines, but Turkey's long-term goal is to equip it with a domestically produced, stealth-capable engine, a project still in its early design stages.